Multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages



s. HESELOV 3,010,606

MULTIPLE BIN DISPENSING RACK FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES Nov. 28, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1958 8 000 0000 000 0000 0 000 0000 0000 90000 0000 0000 0 00 8 m w. w W 0 w m m INVENTOR. SIMON HESELOV ATTORNEYNov. 28, 1961 s. HESELOV 3,010,606

MULTIPLE BIN DISPENSING RACK FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGES Filed Feb. 12, 19582 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. SIMON HE$ELOV BY WJ A TTORNE) United StatesPatent 3,010,606 MULTIPLE BIN DISPENSING RACK FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGESSimon Heselov, 415 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown, Ohio Filed Feb. 12, 1958,Ser. No. 714,732 2 Claims. (Cl. 22192) This invention relates to adispensing rack which may be attached to a cash register and provide aconvenient, attractive display of cigarette packages.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a lightweight,attractive, multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a dispensing rackfor cigarette packages which is formed of a plurality of molded plasticcomponents which may be assembled and disassembled to facilitatecleaning.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a multiplebin dispensing rack for cigarette packages which will hold a largevariety of different brands of cigarette packages as well as varioussizes of cigarette packages.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a multiplebin dispensing rack for cigarette packages wherein the majority of thebottom area of the bottom package in each rack is exposed so that thepackage may be easily grasped and removed from the rack.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a multiplebin dispensing rack for cigarette packages wherein the configuration ofthe lower portions of each of the bin portions thereof project thebottom-most package in each bin forwardly, outwardly and slightlyupwardly to present it in a position in which it may be easily graspedand removed from the rack.

The multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages disclosed hereincomprises a solution to a problem which came into existence with theadvent of the self-service store, or super market as it is frequentlycalled, and wherein the supplies of cigarettes for sale were ofnecessity moved to a position adjacent the check-out counters or cashregister locations, as the case may be.

The area of the check-out counters or cash registers in any suchself-service store or super market is necessarily limited and variousproposals have been made to provide diflFerent forms of shelves, racks,etc., adjacent these areas which would be readily accessible to thesuper market or store personnel but which would be relativelyinaccessible to the purchasing public, while at the same time it is inclose relation to the position of the purchaser and thereby enables thepurchaser to see the merchandise for sale.

Proposals have been made to form racks of metal wire and position thesame on the counters adjacent the cash registers and such racks havebeen mounted on the cash registers. However, the racks have beenincapable of holding a sufficient supply of cigarettes. They have beenheavy, bulky and precariously secured to the cash register and havetherefore been unsatisfactory. They have required considerable time tore-load, which is objectionable as the space around the cash register orcheck-out counters is of necessity occupied by customers paying fortheir purchases at such time as the store is open for business.

The present invention relates to a multiple bin dispensing rack forcigarette packages which solves most, if not all, of the problems whichhave been occasioned, as aforesaid, by other devices, and provides anattractive, readily demountable and easily disassembled, lightweightdevice which will handle all of the various brands of cigarettes offeredfor sale in the various sized packages Most importantly, the device willenable the cigarette packages to be grasped and removed from the rackvery easily.

As disclosed herein, the rack is formed of a plurality of molded plasticparts, preferably of transparent plastic, and so arranged that thevarious parts may be disassembled, cleaned and the rack re-loaded in aminimum amount of time. 7

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes andmodifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposesof the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spiritand scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the multiple bin dispenser rack forcigarette packages.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of one of the vertical panels used in the rackof FIGURE 1' showing it in assembled relation to a portion of the mainpanel of the device which is illustrated in cross section.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1.

, FIGURE 4 is a front plan View in enlarged detail of a portion of therack shown in FIGURES 1 and 3.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section comparable with FIGURE 3 showing amodified construction.

FIGURE 6 is a front plan view comparable with FIGURE 4 and showing themodified construction illustrated in FIGURE 5.

By referring to the drawings and FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 in particular, apreferred embodiment of the invention will be seen and it will beobserved that the rack comprises a vertically disposed main panel 10having integrally formed, oppositely disposed sides 1111'and a bottomportion 12. The sides 11-11 preferably taper inwardly from the bottom tothe top of each of the same and are preferably provided with a pluralityof vertically spaced openings 1'313.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the main panel 10 has a rowof horizontally spaced, squared notches 14-14 across its uppermost edgeand three horizontal rows of horizontally spaced, squared openings 1515therebelow, the several openings and notches being arranged in verticallines so that a plurality of bin forming, vertically disposed panels16-16 may be secured to the front surface of the main panel 10, as bestshown in FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings.

Each of the plurality of panels 1616 is positioned in right angularrelation to the plane of the main panel 10 and each has a plurality ofvertically spaced openings 17 therein. Each of the panels 16 has adouble flange 18 on its rearward edge, the portions of the flangeextending outwardly on each side of each of the panels 16, as best seenin FIGURES 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The back surfaces of the major portion of the double flanges 18 normallyrest in direct contact with the front of the main panel 10 and are heldin that position along with the forwardly projecting panel 16 by a pairof hooks 19-19 which are integrally formed with the panel 16 and thedouble flange 18. The books 1919 engage the notches 14-14 and/ or theopenings 1515 in the main panel 10 in a key hole-like registry in thateach of the hooks 19 is as wide as the double flange 18 and onlyslightly narrower than each of the notches and openings. Each of thehooks 19-49 has a vertical height only slightly less than the verticalheight of each of the open ings 15 -15.

This construction makes possible the positioning of each of the binforming panels 16 on the main panel by simply engaging the hooks 19 oneach panel 16 1n the lowermost rows of openings 15, as seen in the lowerhalf of both FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, wherem each of the panels16 may be brought into registry with the main panel 10 and then loweredrelative thereto to cause the hooks 19 to engage the portions of the mampanel 10 defining the lower edge of each of the openings '15.

7 Thus, the lower row of bin forming panels 1 6 are secured-to the mainpanel 10. It will be obvious'to those skilled in the art that the upperrow of the panels 16, as I shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, aresecured to the main panel 10 by engaging the hooks 19 on each of thepanels 16 in the notches 14 and the uppermost horizontal row of openings15.

The cross sectional -T-shaped formation of each of the panels 16 and itsintegrally formed double flanges 18, combined with the wide offsetdepending hooks 19, quickly and easily locate and secure the plurality,of panels 16 in assembled relation on the main panel 10, as in FIG- UREl.

The horizontal spacing that'exists between the notches 14 and openings15 is arranged so that the horizontal spacing between the panels 16' isslightly greater than the.

normal width of a conventional cigarette package. Thus,

a plurality of cigarette packages arranged in superim-' posed relationmay be positioned between each pair of the panels 16. a 7 a The lowerends of each of the panels 16 are formed so that the double flanges 18,as heretofore described, define a radius beginning near the lower row ofhooks; 19 and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom definingapproximately 100 degrees of a circle from which point the doubleflanges 18 extend outwardly and upwardly on an angle from horizontal andproject forwardly of the forward edges of the panels 16, as best shownin FIG URE 2 of the drawings.

'By referring again to FIGURES 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will beseen that a plurality of superimposed cigarette packages, as shown inbroken lines in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, will, when positioned in thearea between each pair of panels 16, rest on the forwardly and upwardlyinclined angular portion of the double flanges 18 of each of the panels16 in a position substantially forwardly of the main vertical portionsof the double flanges 18 by reason of the radius of the flanges 18 whichcause the lowermost packages of each superimposed stack to moveforwardly and outwardly with respect to the panels 16 to a positionwhere the lowermost package is partially projected forward of theremaining packages and is therefore very easy to grasp.

It will be observed that the area between the double flanges 18 of eachof a pair of panels 16 positions the bottom package of cigarettes withthe majority of its bottom in exposed relation so that grasping of thebottom package is considerably facilitated.

The remaining packages in each superimposed stack automatically positionthemselves on the same tilted position from horizontal as the bottompackage, and this automatically insures the positioning of the pluralityof cigarette packages in each of the stacks between the panels 16despite jarring or movement of the rack as each package tends to slideinto the rack rather than out of it.

The panels 16 are of an over-all height so that'a carton of twentypackages of cigarettes may be positioned in each, plus a few additionalif desired, so that servicing the rack is facilitated as a standardtwenty package carton may be opened and added to the rack at one time. 7

Each of the panels 16 is provided with a forwardly extending arm 20which is notched as at 21 at its upper side near its forward end. Thearms 20, and notches 21 in particular, receive and retain a longitudinalstrip 22 which is notched upwardly from ts lower edge as at 23, inhorizontal spaced relation so that each of the notches 23 in the strip22 will register with the plurality of notches 21 in the plurality ofarms 20.

The strip 22 performs two functions. It provides a structural connectionbetween the forward edges of each of theplurality of panels 16 whichinsures their proper parallel positioning with respect to one anotherand hence the proper spacing between the same. The strip 22 also isprovided with a plurality of card receiving formations preferably takingthe form of forwardly projecting cross sectionally T-shaped flangespositioned in spaced relation to one another longitudinally of the strip22 and immediately adjacent each of the notches 23 formed therein sothat a plurality of identifying name cards may be positionedtherebetween and thus held on the forward side of the strip 22immediately in front of each of the bins defined-by the plurality ofpanels 16. Thus, the name brands of each of'the packages of cigarettespositioned in each of the bins may be quickly and easily applied alongwith the price thereof if desired.

Two pairs of depending clamping members 99 are secured to the bottom 12of the device'in spaced relation to one another and each pair isprovided with an interconnecting fastener '88 so that the device may bea secured to the top portion of a cash register.

It will be seen that the preferred form of the invention has beendisclosed and described and that the several advantages and objectsheretofore mentioned may be realized thereby.

Those skilled in, the art will be aware of the fact that there arecertain brands of cigarettes for which there is only a limited publicdemand as compared with others and that it is therefore necessary ordesirable to provide an arrangement whereby one or two or more of theregular height bins may be changed so that bins of lesser height may beinstalled so that two brands of cigarettes may be carried in each of thevertical bins, as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings By referring toFIGURES 5 and 6. of the drawings a modification making possible such anadaptation of the device may be seen. In FIGURE 5 of the drawings thevertically. standing main panel 10 will be seen and it is exactly thesame as the panel 10 in the preferred embodiment'of the inventionheretofore described and includes the horizontal rows of openings 15through which the books 19 of the panels 16 are engaged.

in FIGURE 5 of the drawings a modified panel comparable with the panel16 is illustrated, the modified panel comprising a vertical panel 24with a longitudinal flange 25 on its rear vertical edge, the flange 25extend ing only to one side of the panel 24, as best seen in FIGURE 6 ofthe drawings wherein a front plan view is illustrated. The panel 24 andflange 25 are of an overall width approximately one-half that of thepanel 16 and its double flange 18, heretofore referred to. The panel .24is provided with an olfset depending hook 26 which engages one of theopenings 15.

In FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings the modification illustratedcomprises the substitution of two superimposed bins for one of the binsappearing in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The modification is so arranged that the bins on either side of themodified bin extend the full normal length of the bins as shown inFIGURES l, 2, 3 and 4. In order that this can be achieved, two pairs ofthe shortened panels 24 with their oppositely disposed flanges 25 areutilized and they are positioned between a pair of modified full lengthpanels 2727 which have outwardly extending and, therefore, oppositelydisposed flanges 28-28 thereon as well as two hooks 29-29, one adjacentthe uppermost end thereof and one adjacent the lowermost end. It will beseen that the panels 27 with their integral flanges 28 are approximatelyhalf the width of the panels 16 with their double flanges 18, asheretofore described.

Thus, the two panels 27-27 and the two pairs of panels 2424 are arrangedin side to side relation, as best shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, thehooks 29 and 26 being in side to side relation and they are respectivelyengaged in the upper and lower rows of openings in the main panel 10.

The resulting bin comprises an upper section and a lower section, thelower ends of each of which are provided with a. radius matching theradius on the bottoms of the panels 16 and each of the flanges 2525 and2828 follow the same and extend forwardly therebeyond in exactly thesame manner as do the flanges 18 on the panels 16, heretofore described.

Thus, two relatively short stacks of cigarette packages may bepositioned in the modified bins and each of the stacks is readilyaccessible at its bottom.

The modification does not illustrate the application of the forwardlyextending arms such as 20 in the preferred embodiment of the invention,and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that if desired themodification could includes this structure which would then provide anidentity card mounting area in front of the lowermost bin in themodified area while the provision of Such a card or identifying tabcarrying structure would be added to the panels 2424 in the upper halfof the bin, if desired.

It will thus be seen that the several objects of the invention have beenmet by the structure disclosed herein and that a relatively simple yetefficient multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages has beendisclosed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages including avertically disposed main panel having a flat front with a plurality ofopenings therein, a horizontally disposed bottom and vertically disposedsides on said main panel, and a plurality of vertically positionedremovably disposed partition forming panels positioned on one side ofsaid main panel at right angles thereto and between said verticallydisposed sides and defining a plurality of flat walled vertical bins,rearwardly extending hooks on each of said partition forming panelsadjacent their upper and lower ends for registry with said openings insaid main panel, right angularly extending flanges on one of thelongitudinal edges of each of said partition forming panels, saidflanges disposed adjacent said main panel and said flanges curvingprogressively downwardly, outwardly and upwardly of the lower ends ofsaid partition forming panels and terminating forwardly of the forwardedges of said partition forming panels whereby a plurality ofsuperimposed cigarette packages positioned on said flanges between saidpartition forming panels will move progressively downwardly andoutwardly thereof, each of said partition forming panels having anintegral forwardly extending arm notched on its upper edge, an elongatedstrip having its lower edge notched at intervals therealong engaged insaid notches in mating association with said notches in said arms andacting to hold said partition forming panels in parallel position.

2. A multiple bin dispensing rack for cigarette packages as set forth inclaim 1 and wherein the outwardly extending portion of the flanges onsaid partition-forming panels lie on a common plane defining an inclinewith respect to horizontal.

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